WRENTHAM PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET

Bean, Rev Joseph                     Sermon, 1773

Belcher, Abner                          Abolishonist

Bennett, Mary Alice                 Pioneer Doctor

Blake, Rev Mortimer               Wrote Life of David Avery

Bragg, Col Arial                        Wrote Memoirs, Small Pox Vaccination

Cowell, Joseph G.                     Artist, painter, sculpturer

Daniels, Cora Lynn                   Wrote True Story of Vampires and others

Day, Samuel                               Judge and patriot

Edwards, Cecile P.                     Wrote Party for Suzanne and others

Fisher, George.                          Theologian and professor at Yale

Hancock, Sally                            Painter in 1822

Gerould, Ellen A.                        Read poem at Day's Academy in 1862

Heaton, Nathaniel                      Printer of 1803 Idleness in the Marketplace

Jess, Lola                                     Wrote Young Samuel Slater

Macy, Ann Sullivan                    Teacher of Helen Keller

Mann, Dr Thomas G.                 Wrote Flying Hospitals, War of 1812.

Perrigo, James                           Clockmaker

Pond, Enoch                                Preacher, writer and editor, 1814-1832

Smith, John                                 Made flax spinning wheels

Smith, Josiah                              Teacher and State Senator

Stewart, Earle                             Assisted composing Images of Wrentham

Whiston, Irma M.                       Wrote Pull Out a Plum

White, John Stewart                  Author

Woodhams, Chas G                   Assisted composing Images of Wrentham 

SAMPLERS BY WRENTHAM PERSONS

On March 6 1994, a sampler, dated 1826, made by Charlotte R. Hovey, of Wrentham, was sold at auction for nine hundred and fifty dollars to Ms J Kastler of 125 High Street, Boston. The late Mrs Esther Anderson, of Sheldonville, owned two samplers made by two sisters, while attending Day's Academy. Esther stated. "When they are as old again as they are now, they will be worth what it cost for their restoration."  

MISS KITTY FOLLETT

 Miss Kitty lived in the family home on West Street, Wrentham, opposite Cherry Street, where the wooden fence is being replaced by a stone wall, and retained her old fashioned clothes and ways. Her elderly gardener also so when she had to make a trip into town, she would dress, including a hat, climb into the rear seat of her old Chevrolet and move sedately to her appointments. The house had a tall Victorian tower and Miss Kitty's maid lived up there with no heat or plumbing. The maid was expected to, and did, use the outhouse, aided of course, by that no longer popular "convenience", the thunder jug. It wasn't bandied about locally, but the Follett house was built on a firm foundation, girdles bearing the trade name "Warners". As told by the late Esther Anderson of West Street. JJM 

GAMALIEL GEROULD TRADGEDIES

When you pass the cemetery, on South Street, near the Plainville line, there is no indication of the tragedy it holds. In a period of slightly more the twenty years, in the middle of the 18th century, Gamaliel Gerould had the misfortune to lose, not one, but two wives, and all of their six children. He married Rebecca Lawrence on January 7 1742 and their first child, named for his father, died on April 14 1743. A daughter named for her mother, died on July 5 1747. A second daughter, also named for her mother, died on July 5 1747, and Catee, their fourth child, died on March 14, 1749. Two years later, on January 1 1751, his wife Rebecca died. Gamaliel re-married, this time to Jerusa Mann at Dedham and their first child Ebenezer, died on July 6 1752, his remaining son died  October 15, 1753 at one year. There is no known record of Gamiliel's death at Wrentham. JJM 

Wrentham Man Seizes Historic Flag

One of the emblems which has been placed in the naval headquarters at Camp Mathew E. Emory is a United States flag taken from the Black Warrior in the fight at Elizabeth City on February 10 1862, at the mouth of the Dismal Swamp Canal. The Black Warrior was a small schooner carrying two thirty-two pounders and she was eventually burned. The flag was found by William F. Gragg of Wrentham, who was an officer aboard the Whitehead, which gave chase to the Black Warrior. He was ordered by Commander Rowan to board the Black Warrior, put out the fires, move her to deep water and take charge. He boarded the schooner, but had no means to put out the fires that had already started. He looked around and the flag was the one thing that caught his gaze. He took the flag, but forgot to report it. Mr. Gragg served as watch officer on the General Putnam and the Young Rover and the flag with it's 32 small stars and one large star in the center flew from the peak of these vessels after he had captured it. The flag has been in the possession of Captain Gragg until the present time, it has been carried in many GAR parades, has been used to decorate many churches, halls and figured in Fourth  of July celebrations. The flag is somewhat of a curiosity, because it must have been made by hand and not by a government manufacturer, as its stars are not symmetrical, which had been the rule for government flags since 1818.  After the war Gragg became a harness maker and lived on Franklin Street. JJM

Sarah E. Forbush

Sarah Forbush was a pseudonym of Mrs George Sheldon, daughter of Electa and Preston Ware of Wrentham. who wrote more than thirty best sellers, such as His Hearts Queen, Step by Step, Margarite's Inheritance and Katherine's Sheaves. Sarah was married to George in 1841 and died in 1926. JJM

Sally Hancock

A Wrentham artist, had one of her paintings showing a basket of fruit, valued at $24,000, on the April 9th 2007 Antique Road Show. She used oil paints on velvet. At the bottom she had painted Miss Sally Hancock, Wrentham, Massachusetts, June 1828. Information from the internet.